Tuft yarn presentation frame



June 6, 1939. E. F. HATHAWAY ETAL TUFT YARN PRESENTATION FRAME. l

Filed Jan. l2, 1938 LIU Patented June 6, 1939 UNITED STATES Arent o TUFT YARN PRESENTATION FRAME Application January 12, 1938, Serial No. 184,618

10 Claims.

Our present invention is concerned with the presentation of the tufting yarns in the weaving of tufted or pile fabrics such as produced in Axminster and the like looms. 1t aims to provide improved means for handling the tutt yarn supply and the supply carriers or so-called tube frames, in their various movements in the loom. In certain respects the invention represents improvements on the structures of our prior Patent 1,861,856 dated June 7, 1932, and of the patent to Bixby 1,924,904 dated August 29, 1933.

Certain subject-matter disclosed in this application but not herein claimed is disclosed and claimed in our co-pending application Serial No. 210,420, led May 27, 1938.

In the drawing, illustrating by way o example certain embodiments of the invention;

Fig. 1 is a View partly in iront elevation and partly in vertical section showing one end oi a yarn carrier or tube frame and associated loom parts including the carrier chain and the transfer clutch at one side of the loom;

Fig. 2 is a top plan of the frame or carrier of Fig. 1, with no spool in place;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section as on the line 3 3 of Fig, 1;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1. looking down;

Figs. 5 and 6 are perspective views respectively oi the free end of the leaf spring for braking the spool and of a detachable brake shoe holder;

Figs. l and 8 are detail sections on the lines 1 1 and 8 3 of Fig. 2;

Figs. 9 to 12 illustrate a modified brake assembly, Fig. 9 being a cross section substantially centrally across the end or" the brake spring seen in plan in Fig. 10, and, Figs. ll and 12 being a top plan and side elevation of a detachable pad for mounting on the spring of Fig. 10; and

Figs. 13 and 14 are views corresponding to Figs. 11 and 12 showing another construction of detachable brake pad.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 4, and particularly Fig. 1, We have thereshown one end portion of a yarn carrier or tube-frame having as its main frame element a tubular sheet-metal bar 2. The row of tuft guides or tubes 3 is secured along the front face of the carrier in any known or preferred manner, as by 'the attaching strip 1 The carrier suspending means as illustrated comprises a suspension hanger or ear assembly of the general type of said Hathaway and Bixby Patent 1,861,856, and in respects not otherwise `herein mentioned it may be similarly constructed as in said patent. This suspension assembly includes an inner or bearing bracket 5 having an angular foot 6 received in the end of the carrier bar 2 and secured against the upper wall or" the latter as by screws or the like l. The upper end of this bearing bracket 5 is slotted for passage of the journal 8 of a yarn spool i? having the usual annular end flange or head It.

Outside the bearing bracket 5 is an outer or chain-engaging bracket Il having at its upper portion an offset and upturned extension or `blade I2 adapted to enter the links of the carrier chains, one of which is represented in section at I3. At its lower portion this outer bracket i i has an angularly inturned foot i secured in the end of, the carrier bar 2, against its bottom wall. The chain-engaging bracket il has an elongated. ver-tical slot ila at its central portion, from a point below the top wall of the carrier bar and up to and partly out on the offset or blade portion I2. The hook latch i5 is set in said slot,

wherein it is pivotally movable between its fully released position as shown in Figs. l and 2 and an outward or chain-engaging position in which the upper hooked end I6 of the latch is engaged over they top of the adjacent inner portion of the chain link i3, for releasably suspending the carrier or frame as a whole. An aperture 45a in the latch prevents interference by the latter with the spool journal when the latch is in its inner or released position illustrated.

Said hook latch I5 extends downwardly to a position opposite the end of the carrier bar 2 where it is formed with. an eye-like portion i'i for receiving a retaining pin I8 passed through it after the latch l5 has been inserted through I the convex or exterior angle of the inner or bearling bracket 5, whereby the main load on the ksuspension hook or latch I5 is through wide fulcral bearing surfaces of, the looped projection Il and the angular portion of the bearing bracket 5. rather than on the retaining pin E8.

Referring still to Fig. 1, the bearing proper for the spool journal 8 is provided by an annular member I9 on a bearing latch or keeper 2B. At a lower portion of the latter is an inwardly oiset cup ZI for seating in a correspond- `ing recess in the bearing bracket 5 and providing a seat for a relatively light compression spring Z2 between the keeper 20 and the adjacent inner face of the hook latch I5, in a genvist erally similar manner as in said Patent 1,861,856. Thus it will be seen that the suspension bracket assembly comprises two rigid angle members` or Y brackets and II set flatwise against each other and preferably'secured together as by spot welding or otherwise, and in which are pivotally mounted the chain-engaging hook latch I5 and the'journal bearing latch and keeper 20.

With the longer carriers or tube frames used Vin weaving the wider carpets and other fabrics,

in which the frames may be of quarter, 24- quarter or even greater lengths (the reference being to quarter yards) the size and weight of various loom parts have been increased, especially in the carrier chain mechanism. The linkforming members of the chain are of increased thickness, as illustrated in Fig. 1, and the connecting elements are likewise wider, necessitating a greater'spacing between the two opposite lateral portions of a given link, suchV as those seen at I3, I3 of Fig, 1 and between which the chain-penetrating or blade portion I2 of the chain bracket I I is to be received. This has given rise toY excessive swinging movement and end play between the frame suspension brackets and the carrier chains, in the course of the travelvof` the yarn carriers in the loom.

To overcome this we herein provide on the chain-penetrating blade I2 a laterally offset guide or projection seen at the right in Figs. 1 and 2. Said guide portion 25, which may be formed by stamping or otherwise, includes a flat intermediate face 25a, and upper and lower inclined cam-like terminal guide portions 25h and 25C. These formations facilitate the entry and withdrawal of the blade I2 relative to the chain links, while the flat face 25a cooperates with the adjacent inner face of the particular link substan- VVtially to reduce objectionable relative movement between the suspension brackets and the chains. In Yfurther accord with our invention, novel means is provided for holding Vor braking the yarn spools against undesired turning, particularly during the travel of the carrier frames with the chains and when rst engaged by the loom transfer mechanism but so constructed and arranged that thespools although still'tensioned shall be sufficiently free to pay off or permit the withdrawal of the yarns at theY appropriate times in the'weaving operation. As herein illustrated said means includes a compound Yspring braking mechanism includingY an elongated leaf spring on the upper face of each end portion ofthe carrierY bar 2. At itsinner end this spring is removablyV or otherwise anchored to the bar as by the screws 3I Flg.f2. Therspring 3D is inclined upwardly and outwardlyjterminating in a foot underlying the head III of the rotatably mountedspool. Said foot carries a brake shoe or pad for engagement with the circumferential surface of the spool head. s

In accordance with the present invention this shoe or pad unit is made readily demountable,V

for repair and replacement. Referring now to Figs. 5 to 8, which illustrate the construction as in Figs. 1 to B'upon aV larger scale, the foot 32V of the brake spring 3i)` is bowed to conform generally to the curvature vof theY spool-head.V At

, Vits ends are upturned Yflange elements 33 andV 7o 34, one Vof which, the flange element V34 inrthis instance, is notched or recessed as Yat 34alin Fig.

5, for cooperation with a demountable l holder Y seen separately in Fig. 6 and indicated as a whole of the brake spring 30. At one end it has a bendable tongue 36 for seating in the notch 34a of the flange element 34 and adapted to` be turned down over and secured under the edge of the foot 32, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3. At its opposite end the holder has a cross piece 31 including oppositely disposed tabs or ears 3B, V38 for turning down around the adjacent edge portions of the foot. The holder is of a length to be received on the foot 32 of the-brake spring with said crosspiece 31 inside the flange 33 of the Y foot.

Along the sides of the'holder are upturned lips 39 adapted toY be pressed inwardly intoV clamping engagement with the pad or shoe element proper, indicated by the numeral 40, in the manner best seen in Fig. 8. This pad or shoe 40 may be formed of any suitable antifriction material such for example as felt, leather or the like. The demountable pad holder enables the pad element easily to be removed and replaced, a fresh pad being inserted into the holder, or the pad or shoe unit including both rectly mounting the pad in a quickly detachable manner. As shown in Figs. 9 and 10 said foot 32 is formed in other respects similarly as in Figs. 5 to 8, so that the same springs 30 may be used with the pad and holder units of said figures or with the directly mounted pads to be referred to, or the notchr34a may be omitted if such interchangeable use is not desired. Referring to Figs. 9 to 14, the foot 32 is provided with oppositely disposed keyhole slots 42, 43 for removably receiving buttons 44 projecting at the under face of the pad or shoe 45. Thelatter, as Vshown in Figs. `11 and 12, is a unitary device wherein the buttons 44 are integral, the pad as a whole being moulded or otherwise formed of a suitable anti-friction plastic or other composition such as a moulded rubber or rubber compound, for example as known commercially under the mark or name Neoprene In Figs.'13 and 14 we have shown anoth'erform of pad 46 cooperable with the slotted attaching formations of the foot of Figs. 9 and 10. In this instance the buttons 41 which may be of metal or'other material have their inner ends anchored as by rivets 48 Vor the like Yembedded in the pad body. The latter may be formed of leather,

fibrous material or other serviceable anti-friction substance. Y

It Willrbe understood that the loaded spool orV spools are installed on the carriers, the end journal such as 8 of Fig. 1 being located in the receiving bearing of the keeper 20 associated with the bearing bracket 5. In so installing the spools itis frequently convenient for the operator to guide the spool head on the brake spring 30, sliding it along the latter to engagev theY spool jourf nal in its bearings.Y I-IeretoforeV such procedure wouldbring the spool head abruptly up against the brake pad, interfering with entering the journal into its bearings on the suspension assembly and disturbing the pad or dislodging it from theY brake spring 30. Accordingly we have herein l to the resiliency of the spring as a whole.

provided guide means for assisting in mounting the spool and acting to protect the brake pad element against the action referred to. Said means as illustrated comprises an upwardly and outwardly inclined rib or projection 49 at the upper face of the brake spring 30, lengthwise of the latter and terminating adjacent the inner edge of the pad element, at a level the same as or slightly above that of the pad, said guide means being symmetrically disposed transversely of the brake spring. A spool moved outwardly along the latter accordingly is elevated to a level to bring its journal opposite the bearing therefor and to avoid objectionable interference with the pad unit such as resulting from the previous abutting action mentioned.

The brake spring 3B as illustrated is adapted forcooperation with spool heads of different diameters. Let it be assumed for example that the spool of Fig. 1 is of the common size having a spool head of 2% inches diameter. Another common size of head is that of 31/4 inches diameter. With the smaller size of spool, as shown in full lines in the drawings, the brake spring 30 is provided with a readily removable fulcrum element 5U, Figs. 1 and 2, illustrated as a disc or button located under a cooperating flat portion 5l of the brake spring and of a height orv thickness to elevate the outer end portio-n of the latter into proper ope-rative engagement with the spool head l0 of the size illustrated. This fulcrum member 50 may be held in place as by means of a boss 52 at its upper face received in an aperture in the spring and having its upper end turned over sufficiently to hold the member 50 in place but permitting it readily to be removed when desired.

For use with the larger diametered spool the fulcrurn member 50 is detached, whereupon the brake spring assumes the lower portion such as represented by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, for proper cooperation with such larger spool head.

It is found in practice that the spool heads are not always true or accurately centered, particularly after considerable service, eccentrioities up to als of an inch being not infrequent. Heretofore the brake shoe supporting springs, such as the member 30 hereof, have been relatively stiff, such that a tensioning displacement of T1; of an inch at the useful position of the spring (that is, when the bearing against the spool head) had a corresponding increased pressure or weighting factor of about one-half pound. Hence with spool head eccentricities such as mentioned the pressure of the shoe on the spool head often varied by a half-pound or more. To overcome this, and to afford a substantially uniform braking pressure despite variations in the spool heads we have approximately doubled the length of the spring 30, as compared to corresponding previous elements, making it at least about twice the diameter of the smaller spool heads, such as the 2% inch size of the full-line showing of Fig. 1, or approximately one-quarter the length of a three-quarter or 27 inch spool. Further, the fulcrum 50 is located remotely from the free or shoecarrying end of the spring, about one-third the distance from the fastening screws 3l to the shoe 4U. Between this fulcrum or support 50 and the screws the spring may have a portion of reduced width, as at 53,. increasing its resiliency in that region. Moreover, in the construction and arrangement as described, wherein the member 50 provides a fulcrmn at the supported portion 5l of the spring, down pressure on the shoe tends to raise the spring at its portion 53, between the screws and `said member lill, further contributing As a` result the shoe pressure is made substantially uniform under all operating conditions; a spool head variation or eccentricity of say gli of an inch causes a pressure variation of but a fraction of an ounce as compared to a half-pound or greater Variation heretofore.

As explained in the Bixby Patent 1,924,904 previously referred to, it is desirable that a relatively strong braking pressure be applied to and maintained on the yarn spool at all times when the carrier or tube frame is in attached position on the carrier chains. But when the carrier is presenting the yarn ends for drawing off and incorporation into the fabric, a less or relatively light retarding and tensioning pressure on the yarn spool is desired, so that the yarns may pay off without too gre-at resistance but nevertheless under tension suflicient to avoid objectionable looping, slackness or other irregularity.

In accordance with the invention novel means 1s provided for this purpose, operatively associated with the yarn carriers and their suspension. brackets, and with the transfer mechanism or clutches of the loom. Referring now to Figs 1, 3 and 4, there is mounted on the carrier bar. 2, be.- low the outer end portion of the brakeV spring 30, a plunger 60 adapted to engage and press upon the under face of the spring. The top wall of the carrier bar 2 is appropriately apertured for reception of this plunger, as is also the securing foot 6 of the bearing bracket 5. Said plunger 6 0 includes a reduced stern 6|, Figs. 3 and 4, extending downwardly into the interior of the carrier bar and loosely received in upper and lower guide collars 62 and 63 having lateral flanges 64 and 65 respectively. y

The lower collar 63 seats on the angular foot I4 of the outer bracket member H of the suspension assembly and is located and held against lateral movement on the latter as by means of a centering projection or nubbin 66 on said foot'. A relatively strong coil spring 61, as compared with the bra-ke spring 30 and with the latch spring 22, surrounds the adjacent portions of the upper and lower collars 62, 63, bearing between the flanges 64, 65 of said parts. Thus it will be seen that normally and unless released in the manner to be explained the coil spring 6l thrusting upwardly against the flange 64 of the upper collar 62 causes the latter to engage and urge the upper or head portion of the plunger 60 into pressing engagement with the brake spring 30, to augment the braking pressure of the pad 40 on the spool head l0. It will be noted that the upper portion of the guide collar 62 is of similar diameter'as that of the overlying portion of the plunger, Lso that the collar may pass upwardly into the apertures in the foot 6 and in the top wall of the frame to any extent necessary, for example'in assembling the plunger mechanism.l

For releasing the augmenting pressure ofthe plunger 60 we have provided means operatively associated with the carrier suspension assembly and adapted to be actuated automatically by the transfer mechanism or clutches as they take the carriers from the chains to present the yarns for incorporation into the fabric being woven. While such means may be variously constructed, in the interests of simplicity and of accuracy and efficiency in operation it is herein `associated with the hook latch I5, in such manner that the -normal operation of the latter by the transfer mechanism, one main element of which is indicated at 'I0 in Fig. 1, serves also to release or de-ener gize the spring plunger lill.v v Y 'lio In the illustrated example, referring particularly to Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the lower portion of the latch I5 is provided, herein integrally, with a twopart or bifurcated inward extension or arm 68 adapted to straddle the upper portion of the collar 62, above its flange 64, between the latter and the under face of the foot 6 of the bearing bracket 5. The under portions of the arm 68 desirably are formed with fulcrum points or cam surfaces 69, disposed diametrically of the plunger. Thus during inward or releasing movement of the latch, to its released position as shown in Fig. 1, the operating arm 68 is swung downwardly and has a balanced camming and depressing action on the yflange 64 ofthe upper collar 52, compressing the spring El and unloading the plunger 60. The latter accordingly is left in a floating or deenergized position wherein it applies little or no pressure to the brake spring 30 or to the pad 4I).

Preferably and as illustrated the parts are so constructed and arranged that as the transfer clutch Illapproaches and engages the latch I5 the tensioning pressure of the plunger 60 remains effective during the initial inward movement of the latch, substantially until the outer end of the hook portion I6 of the latch is clear of or is about to clear the inner edge of the adjacent link I3 of the carrier chain. In other words there is a calculated amount of take-up or lost motion between the -latch I5, its plunger-operating arm 68 and the plunger mechanism, such that the spring 61 remains effective on the latter and is released but partially if at all, until such time as the hook latch I5 is disengaged from the carrier chain.

This feature is of importance, since the initial engagement of the transfer clutch 'I generally is accompanied by some shock on the carrier or tube frame as a whole, heretofore tending to disturb the spool and yarn ends unless the spool is securely held at the particular time referred to. By causing the auxiliary braking element, the plunger 6U, to remain active through this initial period of engagement of the transfer clutches with the carrier the spool is securely held while subject to the particularly disturbing shock referred to. A similar condition prevails during replacement of the carrier onto the chains, and it will be seen that a reverse action of the plunger 6E! occurs, its augmenting braking pressure becoming effective on the spool head prior to complete release of the hook latch I5 from the withdrawing transfer clutch 10 and the dropping of the carrier thereby. Thus the Yyarn spool is fully braked and held against undesired turning not only at all ,times While the carriers are on the chains but also during the more disturbing portions of the operations of removing and replacing the carriers relative to the chains.

The brake plunger assembly, as illustrated and described is of simple and efficient construction, having but few parts, all of which are readily assembled into their operative positions interiorly of the carrier bar. If desired the lower collar element 63 of the plunger unit may have threaded relation with its underlying supporting part, such as the foot I4 of the outer bracket II, for adjusting the tension of the plunger spring 61. An aperture II may be formed in the lower portion of the outer bracket II, opposite the end of ,thecarrierbaig for access to the plunger mecha- Ynism and permitting the entrance of any oppositely disposed projection or the like on the clutch 10, The various parts are readily demountable from the carrier bar, for attention or` renewal. With the larger size of spool, such as correspond- 1. In an Axminster or like pile fabric loom, in

combination with the carrier chains and transfer mechanism for moving the tuft yarn carriers to yarn presenting position, a yarn carrier having means for rotatably supporting a yarn spool and having releasable suspension means including a movable hook latch for engaging the adjacent carrier chain, said latch being movable to released position by the transfer mechanism, a brake member and associated spring means for applying braking pressure on the supported spool head, and operative connections between the hook latch and said spring means whereby the latter is rendered inoperative on the spool by engagement of the transfer mechanism with said hook latch.

2. In a yarn carrier for Axminster and like looms, a carrier bar, suspension means for the bar including a movable latch, bearings on the bar for rotatably mounting a yarn spool, a brake shoe engageable with theispool, vertically movable spring means on the bar for positioning the shoe in operative relation to the spool, a movable spring-pressed element for augmenting the braking p-ressure of the shoe, and means operable by said movable latch for renderingsaid element at least partly inoperative. f 3. A suspension hanger for a yarncarrier or tube-frame, comprising a bracket element having means for securing it to a carrier frame and having an outwardly offset upper portion including a blade-like member for entering between laterally spaced links of a carrier chain, and laterally extended guiding and positioning means'on said member for engaging a link of the chain to reduce relative movement between the latter and the suspended carrier or tube-frame 4. In a yarn-carrier or tube-frame, in combination, bearing means for rotatably mounting a yarn spool, a brake shoe for engaging the spool head, a spring member for acting on the brake shoe, a second spring-pressed member effective on said shoe, suspension means including a movable latch, and means operable by the latch for varying the effective braking action of said second member independently of the rst. Y

5. In a yarn-carrier or tube-frame, in combination, bearing meansfor rotatably mounting a yarn spool, suspension means adapted releasably to engage the carrier with a carrier chain so that it may be taken from and returned to the chain by the `transfer clutch of a loom, said sus-pension means including a movable latch, ashoe having relatively light, resilient spring means for effecting a substantially uniform braking action of the Shoe upon a spool in said bearing means, a plung- Ver-like presser unit including spring means normally acting to augment the braking pressure of the shoe, and means operatively connected with the movable latch for reducing or eliminating the effective action of said presser unit while the carrier is held by the transfer clutch. l 6,. In a yarn-carrier or tube-frame, in combi-f1 nation, a tubular carrier bar, means thereon'for rotatably mounting a yarn spool, suspension means including a movable latch, a brake'p'ad engageable with a mounted spool, a presser member having a guide portion extending into the carrier bar, said member being movable toward and from the spool to vary the action of the brake pad on the spool, spring means in the carrier bar normally urging the presser member toward the spool, and an arm on said movable latch and operatively associated with the presser member and said spring means, to vary the braking action of the pad.

7. In an Axminster loom having a tube frame transporting chain the combination of a tube frame, a yarn spool rotatably mounted on the tube fra-me, a brake normally resisting rotation of the yarn spool, means for attaching the tube frame to the chain, actuating means for the brake movable to an active and an inactive position under control of the attaching means, and means to move the attaching means away from the chain and cause the attaching means to move the brake actuating means from active to inactive position.

8. Suspension means for yarn-carriers or tubeframes of the type having a spool-carrying tubular bar to be hung releasably on the traveling carrier chains of a loom, said suspension means comprising a bracket having an upper portion to enter between links of such chain and having at its lower portion projecting means receivable endwise in a tube-frame bar to attach the bracket thereto, a hook-latch having a hooked upper end and a lower positioning part, said hook-latch adapted for movement to and from a chain-engaging position of its upper end, means pivotally associating the hook-latch with the lower portion of the bracket for said movement, said means including a looped projection on the lower part of the hook-latch and a retaining pin receivable in said projection, an additional projecting arm at the lower part of the hook-latch and adapted to enter the tube-frame bar, and spring means also positionable within the bar for acting on said hook-latch arm and urging the hook-latch toward chain-engaging position.

9. A hook-latch for the suspension means of a yarn-carrier or tube-frame of the tubular bar type to be hung releasably on the traveling carrier chains of a loom, said hook-latch comprising a hooked upper portion for engaging or releasing such chain, and a lower positioning portion, the latter including a looped angular projection adapted to receive a retaining pin to hold the hook-latch in pivotal association with a supporting part of the suspension means, and an additional projecting arm adjacent said looped projection and adapted to enter a tube-frame bar for coaction with positioning spring means therein. I

10. In an Axminster loom, a tube frame, a spool rotatable on the tube frame, a brake normally engaging the spool to resist its rotation, a movable hook normally in tube frame supporting position, and means to move the hook away from the supporting position and through it at least partly to relieve the braking action of the brake with respect to the spool.

EDGAR F. I-IATHAWAY. WALTER BIXBY. 

